Iowa, USA · City Hub
Britt
Liner notes
A folk song about Britt, Iowa, where the spirit of the rails lives on. The lyrics tell the story of the National Hobo Convention, gathering wanderers since 1900. It mentions the old Chief Theater that now holds the Hobo Museum and the grand Victorian Armstrong House standing proud on 2nd Street.
Researcher notes
Song research · gemini-3.1-pro · 2026-10-08
Landmarks
- Hobo Museum
- Armstrong House Museum
- Hancock County Courthouse
- Hancock County Fairgrounds
Streets and places
- Main Avenue South
- 2nd St SE
Geography
- Located in Hancock County, Iowa
- Surrounded by former sloughs
History
- Incorporated on June 23, 1881
- Hosted first Hobo Convention on August 22, 1900
- Owes existence to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad
Culture
- National Hobo Convention held annually on the second weekend in August
- Largest gathering of hobos, rail-riders, and tramps in the US
Businesses and industry
- First National Bank (historical)
- Railroad industry
Architecture and visuals
- Victorian architecture (Armstrong House)
- Former Chief Theater building
Other
- Population of 2,062 in the 2010 census
Research sources
Visual research · gemini-3.1-pro · 2026-10-08
Landmarks
- Hobo Museum in the former Chief Theater
- Armstrong House (Victorian house built in 1896)
- Hancock County Courthouse (built 1899)
Streets and places
- Main Avenue S
- 2nd St SE
Geography
- Flat terrain typical of northern Iowa
History
- Armstrong House built for Lewis Larson by John Victoria
Culture
- Restored original fountain at the courthouse
Businesses and industry
- Former theater converted to museum
Architecture and visuals
- Large Victorian house design
- Reproduced murals in the courtroom
Other
- Armstrong House cost $15,000 to build in 1896
Research sources
UntitledWave · City Pride
Put Britt on the map.
A little town deserves to make some noise.
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Locals have claimed Britt
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Song plays
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Pieces of merch out in the wild
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Requests for another song
Every town has a story — help yours be heard. Counts are self-reported by visitors and update live; they're a wave hello, not a census.
